CORALVILLE, Iowa – Utah Valley University freshmen Kase Mauger and Braxton Mikesell both wrestled their way to third place finishes at the Junior World Team Trials in Greco-Roman competition at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa this weekend. 
 
Mauger and Mikesell competed in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the event, which doubled up as the 2021 UWW Junior Nationals. Mauger earned his third-place finish at 60 kilos in Greco, while Mikesell posted his third-place finish in Greco at 130 kilos.
 
Representing the Brunson UVRTC on the weekend, Mauger went 4-1 on Friday en route to placing third in Greco competition. He won his first two matches over Jeremy Bockert (12-4) and Jakason Burks (8-0) by tech fall to advance to the semifinals. After falling to Phillip Moomey of Spartan Combat RTC), 10-0, Mauger then responded by defeating North Dakota State's Kellyn March by fall (2:04) in the consolation semis. He then went on to defeat Carter Stephenson of Black Fox Wrestling Academy, 9-1, in the third-place bout. 
 
Mikesell also earned a third-place finish after going 2-1 at 130 kilos. After dropping his opening bout, Mikesell then responded by defeating Max Diaz of Statesmen Wrestling Club, 8-0, to move on to the to the third-place match. Then in a rematch against Eli Pannell of Burg Training Club, who Mikesell had previously been pinned by in the opening round, the UVU freshman heavyweight got his revenge with a 9-1 tech fall over Pannell to also place third. 
 
Then in freestyle competition later in the weekend, Mauger went 3-2 at 61 kilos, while Mikesell went 0-2 at 125 kilos. 
 
By taking third at the Junior World Team Trials, both Mauger and Mikesell are now second alternates for the Junior World Championships. 
 
UVU Junior World Team Trials Greco Results 
60 kg – Kase Mauger (4-1) – 3rd Place
Kase Mauger VSU1 Jeremy Bockert (Interior GA), 12-4 (4:28)
Kase Mauger VSU Jakason Burks (Cowboy RTC), 8-0 (1:29)
Phillip Moomey (Spartan Combat RTC) VSU Kase Mauger, 10-0 (2:59)
Kase Mauger VFA Kellyn March (Bison WC), 2:04
Kase Mauger VSU1 Carter Stephenson (Black Fox WA), 9-1 (4:07)
 
130 kg – Braxton Mikesell (2-1) – 3rd Place
Eli Pannell (Burg TC) VFA Braxton Mikesell, 4:26
Braxton Mikesell VSU Max Diaz (Statesmen WC), 8-0 (1:46)
Braxton Mikesell VSU1 Eli Pannell (Burg TC), 9-1 (2:07)
 
UVU UWW Junior Freestyle Results
61 kg – Kase Mauger (3-2)
Kase Mauger VSU Sam Hrabovsky (Purler WA), 11-0 (3:44)
Isaac Salas (Sunkist Kids WC) VSU Kase Mauger, 10-0 (1:54)
Kase Mauger VFA Domenic Zaccone (Buies Creek WC), 3:52
Kase Mauger VSU1 Micah Roes (New York), 18-7 (5:23)
Cleveland Belton (Sunkist Kids WC) VFA Kase Mauger, 0:54
 
125 kg – Braxton Mikesell (0-2)
Aidan Conner (Princeton WC) VSU1 Braxton Mikesell, 16-6 (4:36)
Lloyd Reynolds (SIWC) VIN Braxton Mikesell